This sett was produced for Captain Charles Hepburn in 1968 by Anderson's of Edinburgh, from an existing design. The Hepburns are associated with Hermitage Castle in Liddesdale and the history of Mary, Queen of Scots. James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell (1536-78), married the Queen after being implicated in the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley. Anderson collection is found at Kinloch Andersons of Leith Edinburgh.
A variation of the Royal Stuart tartan. Tartan of the trews worn by the 72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders, 1823-1881.
Venetian production dates back to the fourteenth century. It is a representation of mastery of a material, glass, and element the fire. It endures specific knowledge and shared skills, indicates the use of specific traditional tools and procedures. Skilled artisans melt, blow, shape the coloured glass to obtained the shapes. Venice, the true European capital of glass, glass beads were produced in Murano and in all the Venetian territory. Since it was such a valuable product for trading, the center of production moved from Venice to island Murano to avoid the great risk of fire in keeping the kilns. The production represents a traditional knowledge handed down from generation to generation for more than 700 years. After the first World War of dissolution of colonialism, the beads lost their original function of as trading commodity. It become more of art, jewels and personal ornaments The process generally involves three preparatory positions, the ‘perlai’ (craftsmen of glass beads), ‘molatore’ and ‘impiraressa’, a women who inserts the beads through precise movements and creates various artefacts, and the glassmaker. The art of glass beads became part of the List of Intangible Cultural Heritaage since 2020.
3d model of the standing stones of stenness
3D model demonstrating what the Standing Stones of Stenness look like today and also showing where the missing stones would have been placed, as there are only four out of twelve left.
The Last Supper is a mural painting created by Leonardo da Vinci between 1495 and 1498. It was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza when renovating a church in his possession. This painting is one of the most popular in the Western world due to its use of space and perspective, the handling of motion and the portrayal of human emotion. It is now located in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The painting depicts the reaction that each apostle had when Jesus informed them about one of the betraying him. Everyone had different reactions, from anger to shock. In this scenario, Judas Iscariot is shaken that his plans have been revealed. He is also holding a bag which probably contained the payment he received in exchange for this betrayal and he’s also pouring salt which relates to the Eastern expression “to betray the salt” which means to betray the master
The Sistine Chapel is in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City and was built between 1473 and 1481. It is famous due to the paintings created by Michelangelo on its ceiling between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II. There are various scenes from the Genesis, like the Creation of Adam, the Fall of Adam and Eve and the Expulsion from the Garden. The scholars and art experts believe that the images on the ceiling are a depiction of the Neoplatonic view of the Bible. This means that the scenes that are depicted by Michelangelo represent the various stages of the relationship between humans and God. In addition, Michelangelo portrayed his strained relationship with the Catholic Church by giving his face to St Bartholomew's martyred body.
The Primavera is a tempera painting created by Sandro Botticelli in 1482. It is one of the most representative artwork of the Italian Renaissance and symbol of the prosperity of Florence during the Medici rule. It is one of the most popular paintings of the Western World. Along with the Birth of Venus, the Primavera succeeds in demonstrating the expertise of Botticelli in the use of colour, lines and shaded forms. The meaning of the Primavera is still unknown. However, art experts have attempted at guessing it. Originally, the painting was created in the honour of the wedding of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco, Lorenzo de Medici's cousin. Art experts believe that the painting is not only a mere celebration of the wedding, even though the Medici family is depicted, but it is an acknowledgement of Sandro Botticelli's vast knowledge of the Greek and Roman mythology, classic literature and philosophy. For example, Venus and Mercury, two Roman gods, are depicted.
The Primavera is a tempera painting created by Sandro Botticelli in 1482. It is one of the most representative artwork of the Italian Renaissance and symbol of the prosperity of Florence during the Medici rule. It is one of the most popular paintings of the Western World. Along with the Birth of Venus, the Primavera succeeds in demonstrating the expertise of Botticelli in the use of colour, lines and shaded forms. The meaning of the Primavera is still unknown. However, art experts have attempted at guessing it. Originally, the painting was created in the honour of the wedding of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco, Lorenzo de Medici's cousin. Nevertheless, the painting is not only a mere celebration of a wedding as it is demonstrated by the presence of numerous allegories and metaphor that link to the Greek and Roman mythology. For example, two Roman gods, Venus and Mercury, are depicted. This painting succeeds in showing Botticelli's great knowledge of classical literature and philosophy.
Yuya and Tjuyu tomb in the Valley of the Kings (KV46)
Tutankhamun tomb in the Valley of the Kings (KV62)
"The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing." From Wikipedia
The Calanais Standing Stones (also known as Callanish Standing Stones) monument is a cruciform shaped stone circle with a central tall stone. It also includes a chambered cairn and rows and avenues of standing stones. It is located near the village of Calanais (also known as Callanish) on the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The stone circle and its central stone was erected first around 2900BC. The chambered cairn was added around 500 years later, and it is guessed that the rows and avenues may have been added at the same time as the cairn. The central stone has an impressive height of 4.8 meters. There are numerous theories, legends and stories which attempt to figure out what the purpose of these stones are. In Outlander, a very popular novel series and TV show, the female protagonist is transported back to 18th century Scotland when she touches the central stone in a stone circle. The stone circle is fake (made of props), but it is said to be based on the Calanais Standing Stones. It is not known whether the local people believed that the stones would transport them through time, but it does speak to the impact of the stones. There are accounts from as early as 1680, that show that locals believed that that the stones were the remains of men who had sinned and were punished by the gods by being turned into stone. The stones were sometimes referred to as the “false men”, possibly for this reason. Others claim in their accounts that the site was used as a “heathen” temple where Druids worshipped. Another theory, with a bit more of substantial evidence, is the theory that the site was used as an astronomical observatory. As the stone circle was created first, it is thought that it was built to mark the position of the midwinter sun, as it would have shone through a gap in a nearby hill and the sun rays would hit the central stone. 500 years later, a cairn was built to house the dead and avenues of stones were presumably added around the same time. It is thought that the avenues were added to focus on a special lunar phenomenon which occurs every 18.6 years. Every 18.6 years the moon reaches a point in its long cycle where it rises and sets in its furthest points. When the moon is setting, it appears as if the silhouette of a lying down woman (known locally as “Cailleach na Mointeach” or “the old woman of the moors”) is skimming along the horizon to the south. She then disappears and reappears by lighting up the centre of the circle. It is thought that the local people would have walked southwards along the avenue to watch and celebrate this lunar phenomenon. Patrick Ashmore did excavations of the Calanais standing stones in the 70s and 80s, allowing us to date the stone circle back to 2900BC. He discusses in his work several possible reasons for the original purpose of the standing stones. One idea is that standing stone circles such as Calanais may have been constructed to establish or maintain social rank, almost like “bragging rights”. Another reason could have been territorial, to establish rights to the land and its resources. Within the same vein, its possible that they were constructed to foster a sense of community and identity within the local group of people. He also mentions how they may have been used for religious uses.
It is thought that the Standing Stones of Stenness were built over 5000 years ago in 3100 - 2900 BC and is therefore considered one of the earliest henges in Britain. The Standing Stones of Stenness are part of a world heritage site called “The Heart of Neolithic Orkney”, which also includes Maeshowe, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and other nearby sites. The Stones of Stenness look very different today than they would have looked thousands of years ago when they were first built. Only four of the stones in the ring remain today, the tallest is 5.7m high. Originally, there were thought to be twelve tall standing stones laid out in an ellipse which were surrounded by an estimated 2.3m deep and 4m long ditch. The ditch can no longer be seen. There is also a large stone hearth in the centre of the platform. Additionally, there are now two angular slabs close to the hearth, but it is not understood if they were part of the original henge. Look at the 3D model to get an idea of how the stones currently look and where the missing stones would have been originally placed. There is also an interesting sketch from (estimated) 1818 which shows what the stones looked like then. There are many standing stones in Orkney and legends associated with them. Some legends talk of how the stones used to be giants, trolls or witches which were transformed to stone by the strong rays of the Orkney sun. One of the most popular legends concerns Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), where it believed that some of the standing stones come to life and walk to a nearby body of water to drink and dip their heads in. Other traditions are more morbid, such as the belief that the central stone slab within the ring was most likely used as an alter where human sacrifices were made. This was considered by Sir Walter Scott (a Scottish novelist, poet, historian and biographer) who visited the Standing Stones of Stenness in August 1814. Explore the nearby stones "Odin Stone" and "Ring of Brodgar" on the map to learn of other interesting legends.
Image taken in 2014 of the Standing Stones of Stenness, showing three out of four of the remaining stones.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
Castel del Monte is a castle located on a hilltop in Andria, within the Apulia region of south-eastern Italy. The castle was constructed in the 1240s by King Frederick II who was King of Sicily, King of Germany, King of Italy, King of Jerusalem, and Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick II lived from 1194 to 1250. Castel del Monte is widely considered to be one of the architectural triumphs of King Frederick II’s 40 year reign, and is noted for its outstanding integration of Northern European and Islamic architecture along with its unique octagonal shape for the time period. For these reasons, the castle was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Today, the castle still remains in good condition, a condition similar to that as it would have had when it was first built. The castle has a diameter of 56 metres and its main outer wall is 25 metres high.
A photograph of the front view of the Castel del Monte.
Turuhansk airport was opened in 1949 near the settlement of Turuhansk. For many years, passengers of the airport used the old wooden building which is now abandoned and is slowly falling apart. From my opinion, the building is worth saving as it is a rare example of wooden air terminals from the middle of the XX century.
The Valley of Geysers is one of the largest geyser fields in the world. It is situated on kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East of Russia. The valley belongs to Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which is part of UNESCO world heritage sight “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. The valley itself is the deep canyon of Geyzernaya river. There are dozens of geysers on the banks of the river. Besides geysers, the valley hosts lots of other miraculous objects: hot springs, mud volcanoes, waterfalls and hot lakes. The valley is home to an outstanding number of species of living creatures. This ecosystem is unique to Russia. The first geyser in the valley was found in 1941 by Tatiana Ustinova, who was a geologist. The goal of her expedition was the caldera of Uzon volcano, so the discovery of the geysers was not intended. Due to WW2, the exploration of the valley was postponed for many years. Nowadays the Valley of Geysers is considered one of the 7 wonders of Russia and is a popular site for tourists visiting the unique Kamchatka region, despite the remoteness of the area.
From 1883 until 1904, at an altitude of 1345m, an operational weather station and observatory existed on the summit of Ben Nevis. The purpose of this weather station was to facilitate meteorological research in the unique environment that the summit of Ben Nevis provides, as it is regularly situated in the direct path of Atlantic storms. Throughout its 21-year lifespan, men lived and worked at the observatory, and the data collected at the weather station is generally considered to be one of the most extensive and insightful collections of British mountain weather data. Certain members of the meteorological team were also inspired to advance multiple areas of scientific research from their time at the weather station. Most notably, Charles Thomson Rees Wilson was inspired to invent the cloud chamber from phenomenon he witnessed at the weather station. Today, the ruins of the weather station and observatory still remain on the summit of Ben Nevis, providing shelter for mountaineers.
A photograph of the Ben Nevis Observatory during the summer of 2017.
Göbekli Tepe is a Neolithic archeological site near the city of Şanlıurfa in Eastern Turkey. The site dates back to between 9500 and 8000 BC and is one of the oldest megalithic structures in the world. The site consists of several large circular structures supported by massive stone pillars, most of which were decorated with anthropomorphic details, clothes, animals. Göbekli Tepe was first mentioned in 1963 in survey conducted by Istanbul University and the University of Chicago, but the importance of the site was understood much later, in 1990s, when Klaus Schmidt suspected that the stone slabs found on the site weren`t graves. His theory was supported by further excavations that he continued to make until his death in 2014. Göbekli Tepe was declared a UNESCO world heritage sight in 2018 for its value as "one of the first manifestations of human-made monumental architecture"
Вовнушки. Горная Ингушетия. Vovnushki. Mountainous Ingushetia.
Vovnushki (from ingush “place of defense towers”) is one of the most famous and notable complexes of medieval Ingush defense towers. The complex consists of three defense towers standing on two rocks. It is supposed that there used to be a bridge between the towers different rocks. Each tower has four floors, two narrow loopholes and a flat roof. The towers are typical examples of the architecture of the region. The earliest information we have about Vovnushki dates back to the XVIII century. It is unknown when the complex was built. Judging by the architecture typical to late Middle Ages historians assume that is was built either in XVII or XVIII. In 2008, the complex was voted as one of the top 7 marvels of Russia. It is a popular site for local tourists.
Culture,Movable Cultural Heritage,Tourism
"Bearded elderly man in tweed suit and flat cap, preparing to drive out of sandy hollow, buildings in beyond." FROM SOURCE. UPDATE.
The Longmen Grottes, located in the present-day Henan Province, are the epitomes of Chinese finest Buddhist art. There are over 100,000 status of the Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciples in the 2345 caves. The status varies in size, ranging from 1 inch to 57 feet. The Grottes’ history can be dated back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, and since then it has been one of the most popular venues for worship, attracting distinguished visitors including the woman emperor Wu Zetian. The Longmen Grottes was inscribed by the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2000, being described as “an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity”. Many digital preservation measures have been made since 2013. Leveraging laser scanning and VR technologies, the whole site has been reconstructed and now tourist is able to take virtual tours from any mobile devices, viewing the magnificent status without traveling around. The Longmen Grottes also built their presence on major Chinese social media platforms, which enabled them to reach all age group and entrant their awareness. They have recently developed their commodities which was trendy among younger audiences.
The Yinshan Mountain, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, was the hub of Chinese northern nomadic culture in history. Not only has it witnessed the rise and fall of different ancient nomadic groups, but it reserved the trace of their living with their petroglyphs created through 10 historical stages. Among 50,000 paintings which have been found so far, the earliest one can be dated back to 10,000 years ago. The long history and rich content made it a valuable source for historical study. However, due to vandalism, natural erosion and a lack of continued protection, a lot of paintings are in peril. The preservation of Yinshan Rock Carving started in the 1980s and it was selected as one of the national heritage sites in 2006. However, most protection measures are still very traditional and not effective. So far, the government has been preserving the physical paintings by setting up monuments, CCTV and fences. Digital measures include taking pictures, videos and using GIS technologies to identify locations. These efforts enabled the government to understand the number, distribution, size and popular themes of paintings, but the digital preservation with advanced technologies has not yet been carried out.
Kiyomizu Temple is the main sect of Japanese Buddhism Hosang Sect (Northern Sect). It is located in Kiyomizu in the Higashiyama District of Kyoto City. It covers an area of 130,000 square meters and was built in 778. Kiyomizu Temple is named after the clear water in the temple, and down the stone steps of the Okuin is Otowa Falls. The clear spring is divided into three, representing longevity, health, and wisdom. It is regarded as having magical powers. Tourists passing by here will definitely come. Drinking a sip of water is said to prevent diseases and disasters. According to legend, after the people of Yanzhen opened the mountain in 778, it was built in 798 by the general Sakagami Tamura Maro. Most of the existing buildings were built in 1633. The main hall, designated as a national treasure, is supported by 139 columns, which resembles a huge stage, also known as the "Shimizu Stage". Below the main hall are the famous "Otowa Falls" and the "Zi'an Pagoda" that prays for smooth delivery. The latter is listed as a world cultural heritage. Kiyomizu Temple is built on Otowa Mountain and is the main temple of the Northern Buddhist Sect of Japan. The temple is surrounded by historic sites in Kyoto. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring and red leaves are like fire in autumn.
The Old Town of Lijiang is located in the ancient city of Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, also known as Dayan Town. It is located in the middle of Lijiang Dam. It was built at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty (late 13th century AD). It is located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and covers an area of 7.279 square kilometers. The streets in the ancient city of Lijiang are built with mountains and rivers, paved with red breccia, including Sifang Street, Mufu, Wufeng Tower, Black Dragon Pool, Wenchang Palace, Wang Pizhen Memorial Hall, Xueshan Academy, Wangjiazhuang Christian Church, Fang Guoyu’s Former Residence, Baima Longtan Temple, Gu Peter’s Former Residence, Jinglian Temple, Puxian Temple, Jiefeng Building, October Literature Museum, Red Army Long March Lijiang Command Memorial Hall, Lijiang Ancient City History and Culture Exhibition Hall, Lijiang Ancient City Xu Xiake Memorial Hall and other attractions. Lijiang is one of the second batch of approved Chinese historical and cultural cities. It is one of the two ancient cities in China that has successfully declared the entire ancient city as a world cultural heritage. The ancient city of Lijiang embodies the achievements of ancient Chinese urban construction, and is one of the types of Chinese citizens with distinctive characteristics and styles.
The Shanghai Museum is one of the four major museums in China and features bronze, pottery, porcelain, calligraphy and painting. The building of the Shanghai Museum is very distinctive. Its base is square, and the top is round. This shape corresponds to ancient Chinese philosophy—The sky is round while the ground is flat. The Shanghai Museums essential positioning is the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art, and its collection, exhibition, and research focus on ancient Chinese artworks. The museum is divided into 11 art galleries and three exhibition halls. Eleven galleries cover most of the main categories of Chinese art: bronzes, ancient ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, ancient sculptures, ancient jade, coins, Ming and Qing furniture, seals and ethnic minorities
The Shanghai Museum is one of the four major museums in China and features bronze, pottery, porcelain, calligraphy and painting. The building of the Shanghai Museum is very distinctive. Its base is square, and the top is round. This shape corresponds to ancient Chinese philosophy—The sky is round while the ground is flat. The Shanghai Museums essential positioning is the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art, and its collection, exhibition, and research focus on ancient Chinese artworks. The museum is divided into 11 art galleries and three exhibition halls. Eleven galleries cover most of the main categories of Chinese art: bronzes, ancient ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, ancient sculptures, ancient jade, coins, Ming and Qing furniture, seals and ethnic minorities.
The ancient city of Liangzhu is located in Zhejiang, China. It is the first Neolithic city site discovered in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. The site consists of 4 parts: Yaoshan site area, Gukou high dam area, plain low dam area and city site area. These sites have become outstanding examples of early urban civilisation through the social hierarchy embodied in large earthen buildings, urban planning, water conservancy systems, and different forms of tombs. The outer water conservancy system of Liangzhu Ancient City is the earliest known large-scale water conservancy project in China and the earliest dam system in the world. Therefore, the Liangzhu site is of great significance for understanding human development and Chinese civilisation. Liangzhu Cultures age is 5300-4300 years ago, and it has continued to develop for about 1,000 years. It represents the highest achievement of rice farming in the original stage of Chinese civilisation and empirical evidence of the 5,000-year continuation of Chinese civilisation.
Arkaim is an archaeological site of an ancient fortified settlement, situated in the steppe of the Southern Ural, 8.2 km (5.10 mi) north-to-northwest of the village of Amursky and 2.3 km (1.43 mi) south-to-southeast of the village of Alexandrovsky in the Chelyabinsk Oblast of Russia, just north of the border with Kazakhstan. It was discovered in 1987 by a team of archaeologists led by Gennady Zdanovich, preventing the planned flooding of the area for the creation of a reservoir. Arkaim is attributed to the early Proto-Indo-Iranian of the Sintashta culture, which some scholars believe represents the proto-Indo-Iranians before their split into different groups and migration to Central Asia and from there to Persia and India and other parts of Eurasia. The discovery of Arkaim and the Land of Towns has fueled the growth of schools of thought among Rodnovers, Rerikhians, Zoroastrians and other movements which regard the archaeological site as the second homeland of the Aryans, who originally dwelt in Arctic regions[citation needed] and migrated southwards when the weather there became glacial, then spreading from central Eurasia to the east, south and west, founding other civilisations. According to them, all Vedic knowledge originated in the southern Urals.
The Mukden Palace , or Shenyang Imperial Palace, was the former imperial palace of the early Manchu-led Qing dynasty. It was built in 1625, and the first three Qing emperors lived there from 1625 to 1644. Since the collapse of imperial rule in China, the palace has been converted to a museum that now lies in the center of Shenyang, Liaoning. The Mukden Palace covers an area of around 60,000 square meters, with over 300 buildings and 20 courtyards. According to its layout, it can be divided into three parts: East Section, Middle Section and West Section, and set Middle Section as the main body. The East and West Sections were built in the Nurhachi Period. The layout of the building from the Eight Banners system in the East Section is a unique feature of the Mukden Palace. It is the stereotype of the minority system reflect on the architecture of the Qing Dynasty. It fully combines the integration of the architectural features of Han, Manchu and Mongolian ethnic minority.
The Dunhuang murals are located in Gansu, China, with a history of more than two thousand years. These murals exist in 552 grottoes in Dunhuang, totaling more than 50,000 square meters. The Dunhuang murals are huge in scale and exquisitely crafted. Their content mainly depicts scenes of production and labor, scenes of social life, architectural modeling, music, dance and other images of various ethnic groups in ancient times. Inspired by real life or religious stories, these murals reflect people's desire and sustenance for a better life. The drawing inspiration comes from real life or religious stories, and they all reflect people's desire and sustenance for a better life, and they are an important art treasure house. Dunhuang frescoes have high research value in history, humanities, arts and crafts.
Chapultepec Castle is located on top of Chapultepec Hill in Mexico City's Chapultepec park. The name Chapultepec is the Nahuatl word chapoltepēc which means "hill of the grasshopper". The castle has such unparalleled views and terraces that explorer James F. Elton wrote they “can't be surpassed in beauty in any part of the world." It is located at the entrance to Chapultepec Park at a height of 2,325 meters above sea level. The site of the hill was a sacred place for Aztecs, and the buildings atop it have served several purposes during its history, including that of Military Academy, Imperial residence, Presidential residence, observatory, and since the 1940s, the National Museum of History. Chapultepec Castle, along with Iturbide Palace, also in Mexico City, are the only royal palaces in North America.